Details
ONE OF A KIND AMERICAN BREECH LOADING RIFLE C.1840-1850
About the piece
This is a genuinely unique experimental American rifle with a pivoting chamber secured by a heavy sliding band which also comprises the opened back sight, operated by a bottom post grip, which locks and seals the chamber to the barrel. The barrel is bored and lapped to a clover leaf section which is maintained straight and true for its full 36" length. That configuration is found occasionally in Kentucky rifles. The barrel bears REMINGTON marked to the underside of the pivoting breech, partially cut for the mechanism. Remington sold barrels with conventional bores to the gun trade and this one was adapted to the cloverleaf bore by the maker of this gun. The mechanism shows the heavy machined construction typical of military production and this example was almost certainly an attempt to compete with the Hall breach loader for government favor and a contract. It's even possible that it was produced for Remington for that purpose. The construction conforms to martial standards for ease of disassembly with the sliding breech lock grooved to slide over the barrel lugs. The barrel removes by knocking out two pins and removing the tang screw. The back action percussion lock is English, marked WILKS and lacks the main spring.
